Japan high court: No compensation for Chinese WWII slave laborers

TOKYO -- Chinese slave laborers who were forced to work in Japan during World War II lost their bid for compensation on Friday when the Supreme Court overturned a landmark ruling that had ordered a Japanese company to pay them...

In 2004, the Hiroshima High Court ordered Japanese construction firm Nishimatsu Construction Co. Ltd. to pay a total of 27.5 million yen ($230,000) to a group of five Chinese in compensation for forcing them to work in Japan during World War II.

"The ruling is disgraceful in light of friendly relations between Japan and China," said Shinzo Tsuchiya, a supporter of the former laborers.

[The company] had argued that the statute of limitations had expired on violations of obligations to ensure safe working conditions for the workers.